可
kě
Can, may; but
可否 (kě fǒu) — formal “could you…” request
可否 (kěfǒu) + Verb
HSK 7–93.0
Pattern diagram
可否Action
Rule structure
可否 (kě fǒu) combines possibility with its negative alternative: "is it possible, may I." It is a formal, written question form used in written requests and polite appeals. It does not mean positive permission and does not replace 可以 (kě yǐ) in an ordinary statement.
Rule structure
可否 (kě fǒu) combines possibility with its negative alternative: "is it possible, may I." It is a formal, written question form used in written requests and polite appeals. It does not mean positive permission and does not replace 可以 (kě yǐ) in an ordinary statement.
Examples
请问，可否帮我一下？
Qǐngwèn, kěfǒu bāng wǒ yíxià?
Excuse me, could you possibly help me?
Examples
请问，可否帮我一下？
Qǐngwèn, kěfǒu bāng wǒ yíxià?
Excuse me, could you possibly help me?
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “formal ‘could you…’ request” in Chinese with 可否?
Use the structure: 可否 (kěfǒu) + Verb. For example: 请问，可否帮我一下？ — “Excuse me, could you possibly help me?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
请问，可否帮我一下？ — “Excuse me, could you possibly help me?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
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More HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9 grammar rules
巴不得 vs 恨不得 — strong wishes
Subj. + 巴不得 (bābude) / 恨不得 (hènbude) + Verb
犯不着 vs 犯得着 — worth doing or not
Subject + 犯不着 (fànbuzháo) + Verb; Action/Context + 犯得着 (fàndezháo) + 吗 (ma)?
可 — evaluative judgment
Subj. + 可谓 (kěwèi) + Adj. / Noun
免不了 — inevitable, unavoidable
Subj. + 免不了 (miǎnbuliǎo) + Verb / Adj.
向来 — always previously
Subj. + 向来 (xiànglái) + Verb / Adj.
偏 — contrary to expectations
Subj. + 偏偏 (piānpiān) + Verb (undesirable coincidence)
无非 — nothing but
无非 (wúfēi) + Noun / Clause (dismissive)
何必 — why bother
何必 (hébì) + Verb Phrase (rhetorical, unnecessary)